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There’s a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to every Flack Studio-designed home.
Since David Flack launched his eponymous studio just over a decade ago, the Australian design practice has become known around the world for its signature mash-up of old and new, eclectic yet refined, and utterly inimitable style.
After all, this is the same studio that designed Troye Sivan’s internet-famous Melbourne abode.
It’s no surprise Flack Studio’s recent work on an Edwardian home in Hawksburn — a small neighbourhood that borders Prahran and South Yarra — embodies a taste of this distinctive magic.
‘The home belongs to a professional couple who lived and worked around the world for many years before settling in Melbourne,’ David says.
‘While it retained some of the charming period features typical of the style, the spatial layout was inefficient, and the limited natural light created a rather dark and enclosed living environment.’
In short, it was well overdue for a renovation. Under Flack Studio’s direction, every element of the floor plan was transformed except the grand staircase (now lined in a regal, jewel-toned custom Halcyon Lake runner) and the living room.
The home was completely reimagined in line with the client’s request for modern, light-filled interiors, and an improved connection to the outdoors.
‘Our goal was to create a dynamic, immersive experience as you move through the home. By varying the tones and materials, we wanted to spark a sense of discovery and surprise at each turn,’ David says.
The new kitchen reveals a harmonious blend of eye-catching natural materials, from the blue-toned quartzite bench to the zig-zag silhouette of the American oak joinery, while French doors frame the leafy courtyard by landscape design studio Florian Wild.
The ruched leather banquette, accompanied by cocoon-like pendant lighting by Flos, are Flack Studio hallmarks, reminiscent of the studio’s much-celebrated project, Ace Hotel Sydney.
Also on the ground floor are the playful living room and a sunroom, with scorched almond-coloured walls, separated only by archways.
‘The space itself is relatively compact, so we wanted to establish a sense of separation between rooms without making the spaces feel too divided or confined,’ David says of the sculptural partitions.
The layered and carefully considered material palette was also crucial in designating a unique atmosphere for each ‘zone’.
In the common areas, durable and textural materials like handmade Moroccan tiles, terrazzo, and timber floors anchor the collection of colourful sculptures and designer furniture that’s both functional and fun.
‘But as we move into the bedrooms, the mood shifts to a more intimate and cosy atmosphere. Here, we introduced plush materials like velvet, linen, and soft wool to create a sense of comfort and relaxation,’ David adds.
In the main bedroom, burgundy carpet ties in perfectly with a striking, three-panel oil painting by Marion Abraham, while the bathrooms feature dark Japanese mosaic tiles in contrast with the playful energy of the living spaces.
‘These shifts in design evoke different moods, creating a journey that feels engaging and ever evolving,’ David says.
Yet, above all, Hawksburn House is impressively cohesive. Which perhaps is the true allure of a Flack Studio home — striking just the right balance between classic and eccentric.
